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The Special Olympics Northern California Volunteer of the
Year Program recognizes and acknowledges those volunteers who
rise above the rest and go beyond the call of duty for our
Special Olympics athletes.
We are very proud to announce the winners of the 2008 Volunteer
of the Year Awards in the following categories:
| Jonathan Sparks |
Northeast Region |
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The Melvin
Family |
Silicon Valley Region |
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| TJ Fetters |
Northeast Region |
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| Dallas Andrews |
Silicon Valley Region |
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San Jose Sunrise
Rotary Club |
Silicon Valley Region |
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| Diana Tuttle |
East Bay Region |
While Special Olympics Northern California appreciates the
efforts of all our volunteers, these volunteers were selected
because of their commitment to our athletes and their dedication
to Special Olympics. We define a Volunteer of the Year as someone
who gives tirelessly of themselves, who is willing to perform
any task needed, often without being asked, and who is an inspiration
to others. The Volunteer of the Year is a person who gives
100% of themselves for the benefit of our Special Olympics
athletes.
The Volunteers of the Year will be invited as our guests to
the Special Olympics Northern California Summer Games the weekend
of June 26, 2009 and recognized at the Opening Ceremonies taking
place on Friday evening.
On behalf of the athletes, coaches, families, staff, and other
volunteers we thank the 2008 Volunteers of the Year for their
contributions to Special Olympics Northern California.
Meet our Volunteers of the Year below!
 Jonathan is a volunteer and an athlete. He has been a tremendous asset in our Sacramento Region office, dedicating two entire days each week to do everything that is asked of him. With an infectious laugh, most people would tell you he is one of the most positive people they have met. Whether it be helping put team packets together prior to a competition, helping label athlete credentials, separating and folding t-shirts, or hauling materials and equipment, he takes great enjoyment in helping any way he can.
Jonathan
not only actively volunteers at the numerous sports events,
but also at fundraising events, selling duck adoptions at his
church and promotional events. Last year, while the Special Olympics staff was running around at one of their latest combined fundraiser/competitions, Jonathan walked all over Old Sacramento in 90-degree heat selling ducks to raise money.
At the end of the day he looked tired but still managed to
describe, with excitement, how much fun he had. Jonathan is
a volunteer who has placed Special Olympics at the top of all
of his various activities and this is shown in many different
ways, one of which is his dedication to arriving at the Sacramento
office on a regular basis and on time. Jonathan demands a lot
from himself and is always willing to take on challenges because
he believes so greatly in the mission of Special Olympics.
Jonathan embodies all of the qualities that Special Olympics
looks for in volunteers. He is a vibrant, enthusiastic, dedicated
and the greatest team player who sets an excellent example
for those who would become Special Olympics volunteers. Congratulations,
Jonathan.
 In 1989, Ron Melvin was in the Air Force and stationed at Mather Air Force base near Sacramento. He was doing well, but had a nagging feeling that he needed to find ways to give back to the community. Melvin had heard of Special Olympics, and started doing research on how he could participate as a volunteer. That was 20 years ago, and now with his wife Judy Villalobos-Melvin and their 6-year-old daughter Toni, volunteering for Special Olympics has become a family affair.
“They are such a help at the major events” said Jenny Choo, regional sports director for Special Olympics. “They have really bonded with the athletes and other volunteers and are such a pleasure to be around." When Ron Melvin started 20 years ago, he helped with whatever needed doing. He moved into coaching and now referees at the floor hockey, and softball events. He also serves in a games management role, ensuring the officials are trained and certified and everything is running smoothly. Melvin also received his 20 year service award in 2008.
“It gives me such a great feeling to help these athletes compete”, says Melvin. “When we finish with an event, I just have the feeling that we’ve accomplished something special."
In 1997, Melvin met Judy and he introduced her to Special Olympics. She was hooked.
“I just tagged along in the beginning”, said Judy. “Now I help with the basketball program, floor hockey, and the Summer Games events where athletes from all over the region compete together. “And it’s a wonderful feeling for me to help support them at the games. Every time I go it’s just amazing.” Now their young daughter Toni is a common site at Special Olympics events. “She spends her time with the medical staff, running errands and helping the medics with anything they need”, says Ron. “She also loves helping the athletes, and has learned at an early age how about diversity and compassion for others - extremely valuable lessons for kids to learn.”
For their dedication and commitment to Special Olympics, the Melvin Family has been awarded the “Volunteer Family of the Year” award for 2008 and was recognized for their contribution during 2009 Summer Games Opening Ceremonies.
“We’re so grateful for the recognition in winning this award” says Judy. “We all get so much out of helping; this is really some great ‘icing on the cake’. And winning it as a family makes it just that much better”.
 As a coach and Area Director for the Yuba/Sutter/Colusa Area,
TJ Fetters is a wonderful representative of Special Olympics
and clearly embodies what it means to be a Special Olympics
coach, instilling the values of sports and life into his athletes.
He has a very positive attitude about Special Olympics and
this is reflected in the attitude of his athletes and coaches.
TJ has found his teams on both the winning and losing side
of competitions. If his team is on the losing side, he does
his best to teach his athletes that winning isn’t everything
and you can only get better if you play your best. If his team
is on the winning side, he does his best to have his athletes
show good sportsmanship, so that the team they are playing
has a good experience as well.
TJ has shown his athletes and coaches the ideal way to be
a good sport which includes having his team shake hands with
the opposing team – no matter what has happened during
the game.
TJ always takes the time to thank the volunteers and staff
who have worked at an event. Many of his athletes do the same.
He also has passed along his great attitude and outlook on
sports and Special Olympics to his son, who is now also a Special
Olympics coach.
TJ Fetters is truly a fine example of the qualities that define
an excellent Special Olympics Coach. He has earned the respect
and loyalty of athletes, coaches, families and staff and is
highly deserving of the 2008 Volunteer Coach of the Year.
 Dallas Andrews has been volunteering for Special Olympics
since he was a little boy, taking on more and more responsibilities
and leadership roles. Throughout the years Dallas has been
a tremendous help to the organization, and along with growth
of the Special Olympics Sports Programs, we also have been
able to see Dallas grow into the positive and hard-working
volunteer that he is today.
He has always been assigned to help out with the G-Team (support
team) at the Special Olympics Regional and Championship games.
He also assists the venue director in running the Individual
Skills Contests for team sports such as Softball, Soccer, and
Floor Hockey. He also helps out with the Snow Shoe venue at
the Winter Games Regional and Championship Games. In the last
few years, Dallas has volunteered in a different capacity:
dance DJ, Floor Hockey Official and chef at the 2008 Summer
Games! Although he is a multi-talented volunteer, Dallas always
prefers to help with the G-Team tasks as he likes the manual
labor. Dallas is constantly learning the ways of mastering
truck loading, and in a few years he will be old enough to
actually drive equipment trucks to the events.
Although the Special Olympics Northern California staff and
Games Management Teams treat Dallas like an adult, it is now
a pleasure to recognize him as an outstanding youth volunteer
of the year for 2008.
 The San Jose Sunrise Rotary Club has played an essential role
in the Silicon Valley Region for the last few years and 2008
was no different. In May of 2008 they provided 1,100 meals
for the Special Olympics Silicon Valley Spring Games at Gunderson
High School and in October another 200 meals for Powerlifting
Regionals at Oak Grove High School. On both occasions, the
Rotary was asked to substantially increase their contributions
from the year before and on both occasions they obliged with
tremendous enthusiasm.
The San Jose Sunrise Rotary Club goes a long way to make sure
that the lunch preparation and service at any event goes smoothly
and without a hitch. They do a great deal of planning and budgeting
ahead of time and always show up at the event with a large
number of members who are eager to work with our athletes.
The lunches that they provide are always nutritious and delicious – just
the way the athletes like them!
The San Jose Sunrise Rotary is an incredible volunteer group
worthy of our utmost appreciation and their selfless demeanor
has greatly improved our region and most importantly our athletes’ experience
at competitions.
 The Special Olympics athletes look up to the Law Enforcement
Officers, who come to the numerous Regional and Championship
competitions to honor their accomplishments by awarding them
their well-earned medals. The Awards Ceremony at the events
is always made extra special by their dedication. The Officers
treasure the successes of our athletes and give countless hours
of their time to make sure that our program grows and we reach
out to more athletes.
Diana Tuttle is the person in Alameda County who is behind
the Law Enforcement Torch Run Fundraising effort that quietly
makes everyone around them shine even brighter. Diana has taken
on the role as the Alameda County Torch Run Liaison, organizing
and running a monthly meeting for more than 20 law enforcement
agencies that are involved in the Torch Run efforts. She has
taken an already strong program and has asked the Officers
to give just a little more. As her agency’s coordinator,
they raised over $60,000 in 2008 for our athletes. She goes
to law enforcement agencies that are struggling, and offers
her guidance and encouragement. She steps in and offers aide
when an agency is faltering.
She also works with a team that has added inventive new fundraising
ideas to an already ambitious line up of events. For example,
in 2008 the Alameda County agency added an e-cycle fundraiser
where officers and volunteers worked at a collection site to
help people get the electronic “junk” out of their
homes and not have that waste go to a landfill. Diana Tuttle
has given our Torch Run program a new level of excellence.
It is because of her dedication she offers as a volunteer that
she is now honored as the 2008 Volunteer of the Year in the
area of Development.
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